Before tablets and laptops came along, writers mostly did their writing in either a leather-bound journal or on a clunky machine – the typewriter. It may be nice to reminisce about the days of click-clacking away at a typewriter, but actually using one in this fast-paced world sounds impractical for a modern-day writer.
In today’s time, everyone irrespective of their profession and age ultimately uses their laptop to write something. Students do it to write, edit, and submit their assignments online, while an entrepreneur needs it to create documents or presentations for business purposes.
At some point, everyone needs to unleash the writer within. It doesn’t matter if it’s about letting our creative juices flow for writing a novel or simply creating an excellent presentation to impress the investor. Either way, we would need a good laptop to help us in the process of writing.
It would be safe to say that the laptop as a writer’s best friend. With a good and reliable laptop, you would be able to take your writing with you anywhere you go – from hustling airports to warm coffee shops.
So whether you are drafting your latest business idea or simply doing some research work, you should be able to choose a laptop that meets all your requirements.
You don’t have to worry. We have rounded up seven of the best laptops for writers that we think might meet all your writing expectations in the years ahead. And the best part is – these are budget-friendly laptops, so you don’t have to rob a bank to get your hands on them.
But before we go any further, let us learn about how to choose the right laptop from the lot.
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First things first – the best laptops for writers don’t necessarily have to be high-end ones. Any laptop should be powerful enough to deliver stable performances regardless of its price tag.
But, what does “powerful enough” mean? Here are a few things we think you should consider before buying a laptop for writers.
Keyboard
It’s obvious that when you are a writer, most of your tasks include typing. You will want the laptop to have a keyboard that allows typing for hours without putting stress on your hands. In that case, getting something with a compact keyboard might not be a good idea. Instead, we would suggest going for a laptop with a well-spaced keyboard.
Furthermore, the best laptops for writers will provide enough space for the palms to rest, making the whole experience more comfortable.
In case you are the type of person who often tends to write in a poorly lit setting, then getting a backlit keyboard would definitely be a good idea. With its built-in light effects, the letters on the keyboard will be quite visible. However, we must point out that getting a backlit keyboard on a budget laptop might be difficult.
Portability and Weight
Some people are always on the go – writing in the cafe, in their office, or any other comfortable place outside. If you are one of those people, then you should definitely look for a laptop that is easy to carry around. A lightweight laptop would be the best choice.
Screen Size
Any kind of writing usually requires a lot of multitasking. That’s why it’s recommended that you opt for a laptop with a bigger screen. That way, you can open and organize as many windows as you need at once. Not having to switch between windows every couple of seconds will make you more productive. What’s more, a big screen will go much easier on your eyesight than a small one.
RAM
RAM is another important factor that you need to take into consideration when making a purchase.
The work of a writer involves a lot of research. That means that you will probably be opening too many tabs in your browser, which might slow your computer down. Browsers are infamous for eating up too much memory.
Therefore, you should find a laptop with a good amount of RAM so as to prevent your laptop from slowing down.
Ideally, a laptop should have more than 6GB RAM. But if your budget is preventing you from getting something with a higher RAM, the good news is you can always upgrade the RAM later.
Battery
If you find yourself writing outdoors more often than indoors, you will want to go for a laptop with long battery life. That way you won’t have to worry about your battery dying in the middle of making your presentation or writing your assignment. You might not be able to find a charging spot outside all the time.
So that was our quick guide on what to look for in a laptop. Moving forward, let us look at the list of the seven best laptops for writers to choose from.
1 – ASUS VivoBook F510UA – Thin, Lightweight, and Budget Priced
The very first on our list of best laptops for writers is ASUS VivoBook F510UA.
ASUS VivoBook – a slim and stylish laptop – is powered with strong configuration. This budget laptop offers so much that it would be a shame not to take it into consideration.
Main Features
ASUS VivoBook F510UA is undoubtedly one of the best laptops for writers on a budget, especially if you travel regularly with your laptop. It has enveloped all the powerful configuration in just 0.8″ thin profile, which weighs only 3.7 pounds.
Another unique feature is its ultra-narrow 0.3-inch ASUS NanoEdge bezel, which gives an incredible 80% of screen-to-body ratio. It enhances your visual experience. At the moment, it’s the only laptop that promises such slim bezel display at such a low price.
Furthermore, it sports a full-size 15.6″ FHD WideView Display, which offers great color display and more accurate viewing angles. In addition, the use of splendid visual optimization technology automatically optimizes visuals for its users, for almost all kind of content being played.
The display comes with an intelligent set of sensors which optimize the essential visual parameters such as contrast, brightness, hue, and sharpness in every pixel in order to deliver lively and vivid imagery.
Moving on, we found the design to be elegant and stylish. The gray-colored laptop features brushed metal with a shiny chassis. It is thicker at the hinge-edge, and it gradually gets thinner.
Other Specifications
Under the hood, the ASUS VivoBook is powered by the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor with 1.6GHz, which can rattle up to 3.4GHz in its turbo mode. It is further equipped with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, which allows multitasking on the device without any interruption.
As for storage, ASUS has done a great job again by providing 1TB of HDD, which is sufficient to store all your files and data. However, we think that it lags behind SSD
which could have increased the speed and efficiency of data transfer. The laptop has an integrated graphics coprocessor with no additional GPU.
Moreover, if you are tired of entering your password every time you log in, then we have some good news for you. ASUS VivoBook has a built-in fingerprint sensor in the touchpad and Windows Hello, which not only adds an extra level of security but also saves you some time.
The laptop also comes with a standard set of ports and connectivity options, which are uniformly distributed along the two sides of the device. It includes one HDMI, one USB 3.1, one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, 3.5mm audio jack, and an SD card reader. On top of that, it comes with pre-installed Windows 10 Home operating system.
To sum up, ASUS VivoBook – a premium yet affordable laptop – is one of the best laptops for writers on the go.
PROS:
Lightweight, thin, sleek & stylish
Upgradable RAM up to 16GB
Built-in fingerprint sensor
CONS:
There is no SSD
No dedicated GPU
2 – Lenovo Ideapad 320 – Cheap & Longer Lasting Battery Life
Lenovo Ideapad 320 15.6″ proves that not every cheap laptop for writers has to be unsatisfactory.
It is a perfect choice for you if you are on a tight budget and have no truly CPU-intensive tasks to do.
Main Features
To begin with, it’s hard to find an affordable laptop in which Windows 10 and a low-end processor work together smoothly. But it’s time to rejoice as we have stumbled upon Lenovo Ideapad 320. Namely, this laptop runs efficiently on Intel Celeron N3350 Dual-Core processor alongside Window 10.
It can turbo boost up to 2.4GHz. However, buying it means giving up most of the high-end activities like producing quality videos, gaming, and so on. We recommend it, though, if you’re looking for a laptop that would allow browsing the Internet, writing, and performing relatively simple photo editing tasks.
Furthermore, the processor is fueled with the installation of 4GB of DDR4 RAM, which allows the laptop to run efficiently. It even comes with pre-installed Window 10 Home, which we believe is preferable.
Moving on, the laptop comes with a storage of 256GB SSD, which will speed up the operating system as well as other activities like files and data transfer. It makes the laptop highly responsive to all your activities.
Other Specifications
We found the Lenovo Ideapad 320 visually appealing. It doesn’t quite look like a budget-friendly laptop. The body is not susceptible to fingerprints and smudges, and it comes in two colors – red and blue. You will also notice that the hinge keeps the lid rigidly in place, but it seems to be a bit of a challenge to open it. You will most probably have to use both of your hands to do it.
Meanwhile, measuring at just 0.9″ in thickness and weighing not more than 4.84lbs, Lenovo Ideapad 320 is one of the best laptops for writers when it comes to portability. You can easily carry it around.
The display sports a 15.6-inch screen size with 1366×768 LED backlight. In addition, it comes with Intel HD Graphics 500 and HD anti-glare display that will go easy on your eyes. Also, the keyboard has a pretty standard layout with a separate numeric keypad, which makes typing a lot easier.
It is also important to note that there’s a reasonable amount of space between the keys. Finally, the laptop offers a big palm resting area, and surprisingly, the touchpad isn’t a disappointment either. Quite the contrary – it feels smooth, and it is responsive.
As for connectivity, there are enough ports and slots, including Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity and 10/100Base-T Fast Ethernet. It has got a DVD writer, 4-in-1 memory card reader, webcam, one HDMI, one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 port, and one headphone/microphone jack.
In a nutshell, it’s one of the best laptops for writers that don’t spend much of their time trying to multitask.
PROS:
Lightweight and stylish design
HD anti-glare display
A good number of connectivity ports
Good for low-level multitasking
CONS:
Poor screen resolution
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3 – Apple MacBook Air – Virus Resistant & Many Writer-Friendly Features
Although Apple MacBook Air might be labeled as borderline expensive, it is a classic choice for writers. For many years, it has been considered as one of the best laptops for writers, and all for a good reason.
After all, one can never go wrong with Apple MacBook Air.
Main Features
Let’s first talk about the design. Apple MacBook Air is known for its thin and sleek design, which makes it easily portable. It is a perfect blend of ergonomic design and powerful configuration. MacBook Air’s aluminum chassis is iconic; it gives a classy touch to the laptop. Of course, nowadays you will find everyone from LG to Acer offering even thinner metallic unibody laptops, but Apple was the pioneer.
Furthermore, MacBook Air comes with a comfortable keyboard in order to ensure a pleasant typing experience. The keys on the keyboard offer an extra crunchy tactile feedback, which makes it an amazing typing-partner. Not only that, the keyboard is backlit so that you can easily type even in a poorly-lit setting.
The trackpad also gives an accurate response and a solid feel to each click. Thus, it is a perfect choice for writers as it allows carrying out any required tasks with much ease.
Another noteworthy feature of MacBook Air is its long-lasting battery capacity. It can stay charged for more than 10 hours in continuous usage. It’s really beneficial for those who like working outdoors most of the time. They won’t have to worry about running out of battery any time soon.
Other Specifications
It’s no surprise that even years after its launch, MacBook Air continues to hold a dominant position in the laptop market. This 13-inch model comes with an Intel Core i5 dual-core processor with 1.8GHz, which can turbo boost up to 2.9GHz. It is further coupled with 8GB of RAM to let you multitask efficiently.
Moreover, the storage department is backed by 512GB of SSD storage, which should be enough for a writer to save all of their data and files.
As for connectivity, MacBook Air features two USB 3.0 ports so that you can go from laptop to workstation in just a few connections. Also, MacBook Air comes with a retina display, with a resolution of 1440×900 pixel.
Clearly, writers and other keyboard jockeys will get the best experience on the 13-inch MacBook Air.
PROS:
Small and lightweight
Good battery life; up to 12 hours
Beautiful retina display
CONS:
Only two Thunderbolt ports
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4 – New HP Premium High Performance – HD Webcam & Latest Bluetooth Connection
HP – one of the top leading laptop brands – has a unit for every occasion. From premium business laptops to budget-friendly Chromebooks, they have it all.
The latest entrant to their list of remarkable models is New HP Premium High Performance 15.6″ HD Touchscreen laptop. With its affordability and high performance, it definitely makes for one of the best laptops for writers. We are pretty sure this laptop is here to stay.
Main Features
As one would expect, the major selling point for HP Premium 15.6″ Touchscreen laptop is the touchscreen. It allows the laptop to be operated with much ease, especially when you are browsing the internet. You can easily open and close the web pages in seconds as it eliminates the need for finding and dragging the cursor across the screen. A writer would definitely appreciate this feature in a budget laptop. Plus, the touchscreen is quite responsive too.
Another impressive feature of this laptop is its battery life. As writers, we are often found working in coffee shops, in bustling airports, or even while we are traveling. With HP Premium 15.6″ Touchscreen laptop, you will be able to work anywhere with ease, without worrying about the battery draining any time soon. It offers 3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion battery which can last up to 9 hours with mixed usage. However, it weighs 4.76lbs, which some may find heavy to carry it around.
Furthermore, the silver-colored laptop features a number of ports which are there to enhance the user’s experience. It not only lets you connect to external storage devices, but it also turns transferring data into an easy task.
The laptop comes with two USB 3.1 ports and one USB 2.0 port, Bluetooth, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Also, the laptop comes with pre-installed Windows 10 to enhance productivity.
Other Specifications
The New HP Premium 15.6″ Touchscreen is a user-friendly laptop, powered by Intel Dual-Core i5-7200U processor. It has a base frequency of 2.5GHz, which can rattle up to 3.1GHz in turbo mode. Moreover, it is paired with 12GB DDR4 of RAM, which ultimately lets you perform high-end tasks with absolute smoothness.
Moving on, the display sports a 15.6″ diagonal HD with 1366×768 resolution. Thus, it produces sharp and clear images. In addition, it comes with SVA WLED backlit touchscreen display and Intel HD Graphics 620.
As for storage, 1TB HDD is more than enough for a writer to easily store all their images, data, and files. And if you need more space, there’s always an option of accessing external hard drives.
In a nutshell, the HP Premium 15.6″ Touchscreen laptop is ideal whether you use it for business or pleasure. You can complete your tasks or play games on it, and it won’t disappoint.. Also, the design beautifully suits the modern lifestyle. No wonder it made it to our list of best laptops for writers on a budget.
PROS:
Gives a premium build for a budget laptop
Windows 10 operating system
Responsive and interactive touchscreen
CONS:
Unreliable touchpad
A little heavyweight
5 – Acer Chromebook 14 – Low Priced With Dual-Core Processor
For writers who are just starting out with their career and are on a tight budget, the search for their laptop ends here. Acer Chromebook 14 makes for one of the best laptops for writers on a budget by costing not more than $300.
For its price, Acer Chromebook 14 offers decent features that will surely not be a disappointment.
Main Features
First off, Acer Chromebook 14 comes in an aluminum chassis, which makes the laptop solid and reliable. Its brushed metal lids give it a premium look, which appears like an expensive laptop.
It weighs 3.42 pounds, which could be a little on the heavy side, but it is only 0.67 inches thick. As such, it wouldn’t take up a lot of space if you decided to carry it in your backpack.
Furthermore, Acer Chromebook 14″ display has a sharp resolution of 1366×768 pixels with LED-backlit HD display.
Much to our surprise, the keyboard turns out to be a disappointment. It features hard-plastic keys and has shallow spacing, which slows down the typing speed. Acer could definitely have done better with it. On the bright side, the large touchpad works well – it is smooth and interactive. It accurately tracks the input and gives a solid feel to each click.
Other Specifications
Acer powered the Chromebook 14 with a 1.6-GHz Intel Celeron 3855U dual-core processor and 4GB of RAM, which makes it capable enough for multitasking. It provides the speed required to switch between multiple tabs and applications.
With Intel HD Graphics 510, you can play casual games like Cut the Rope without much hassle. Moreover, it comes with a 16GB eMMC drive which is a drawback for people looking to store huge files and a lot of data. However, Acer has included a built-in media reader on this machine.
Furthermore, Chromebook 14 has included Bluetooth and an 802.11ac wireless LAN. As for direct connectivity, it is limited to only two USB 3.0, one USB 3.1 Type-C, and an HDMI port.
The most important thing to note is that the battery can last up to 12 hours, which is a lot. It means you don’t have to carry your charger with you every time you leave your home for work or school.
Overall, the configuration of this device is perfect for those who want to browse through mainstream apps and stream movies, but it isn’t designed for web gaming or other graphics-intensive work. Acer Chromebook 14 is all about portability with long-lasting power, which makes it one of the best laptops for writers on a budget.
PROS:
Long-lasting battery
Allows you to multitask efficiently
A smooth and responsive touchpad
CONS:
Shallow spacing between keys
Less storage
6 – Acer Chromebook 14″ Full HD – Built-in Virus Protection
With their simple approach and relatively low price, Chromebooks are becoming a smart choice. Acer Chromebook 14″ Full HD is no exception. That’s why it had to be there on our list of best laptops for writers on a budget.
For a mid-range price, it offers an all-aluminum chassis and a beautiful display with a stable performance. However, considering the fact that Google prepares to usher Android apps into Chrome OS, Acer Chromebook lacks a touchscreen.
Main Features
Acer Chromebook 14″ Full HD is sturdily built. Its glossy metal logo contrasts perfectly with the silver brushed aluminum lid. The material is durable and light; it weighs only 3.42 pounds, so you can easily carry it around. The laptop’s dimensions are a trim 13.3 x 9.31 x 0.67 inches so you shouldn’t have any problems fitting it in a standard backpack.
Furthermore, the impressive 14-inch screen is encased in a slender bezel, and it comes with a 1920×1080 resolution. That’s a great upgrade from the previous Chromebook, which featured a 1366×768 resolution. The screen displays sharp images and has a good amount of brightness.
Moving on, the device has a long-lasting battery. Even with such a high resolution, Acer claims that the battery can last up to 12 hours, which is a good amount of time. Therefore, if you have the habit of working outside, you should definitely consider this model.
Other Specifications
Acer has done a good job with connectivity. It has the latest Bluetooth 4.2 for close-range activity, and the Wi-Fi covers every dual-band 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac/a/b/g/n. Furthermore, you will find an HDMI port, a pair of USB 3.0 ports and a security lock slot on the left side. And on the right side are the laptop’s headphone and power jacks. One thing that is missing is the SD card slot, which is quite unexpected.
However, Acer compensates for this lack by adding the webcam, which provides High Dynamic Range (HDR) imagining. You get to see or share things in crystal clear picture quality. It’s really a plus for writers or business people who often have to attend meetings over a video call.
What’s more, the keyboard lacks some space between the keys, which can have a direct impact on your typing speed. However, the touchpad is quite smooth and interactive – it accurately responds to the input.
Under the hood, Chromebook 14″ Full HD features Intel’s Celeron N3160 quad-core, which is paired with 4GB of RAM and integrated Intel HD graphics. You can easily split your screen between a dozen tabs while streaming a Youtube video, and playing casual games on it, the system will not lag behind. But if you want to edit and produce high-quality videos or play high-end games, it’s definitely not for you.
Also, now you can get all the Google Play apps on your Chromebook. However, we feel that smartphone apps are more compatible with a touchscreen, and since it is lacking in the Chromebook 14″ model, it limits the appeal of what Acer has to offer.
But overall, we would say Acer Chromebook 14″ Full HD is a great choice for writers to productively carry out their work without having to spend a fortune.
PROS:
Sturdy aluminum build
Can easily handle multitasking
Good battery life
CONS:
No SD memory card reader
A backlit keyboard is missing
7 – Microsoft Surface Book 2 – Extremely Fast
The more power, the higher the price tag. We know Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a bit on the expensive side, but we couldn’t resist including it on our list of best laptops for writers on a budget.
Its power-packed performance with high speed and efficiency is hard to miss.
Main Features
If you haven’t noticed yet, Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a hybrid machine, i.e., 2-in-1. The design seamlessly integrates the screen and base with a classic-looking hinge. The touchscreen can be detached from the keyboard, which can also be bought separately with a stylus called the Surface Pen and a rotating knob – Surface Dial.
Furthermore, with a complete laptop set up, you get a battery life of up to 17 hours as the keyboard section houses a second battery. However, with only the tablet, it will last for 5 to 6 hours. In either case, if you do high-intensive work, the number of hours will drop from the usual.
As for the design, Microsoft Surface Book 2 is very elegant-looking. It features a gray magnesium body, which has a warm and soft texture. And the touchscreen houses a 13.5-inch screen with high resolution of 3000×2000 pixels. The touch feels smooth and is very responsive.
In terms of ports, it has two full-size USB 3.1 ports, SD card slot, a USB type C port, and surface connector. In addition to that, you will also find a magnet holder for the surface pen. Moreover, the 5MP front-facing camera is a good choice for Skype users, while the rear 8MP camera will help in scanning office documents.
Other Specifications
Microsoft Surface Book 2 makes no compromise on the performance. For an entry-level 13.5-inch model, the device houses 256GB of solid-state storage, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 8GB of RAM. You will enjoy watching Netflix on it thanks to the beautiful display. And the dedicated graphics used will easily handle all your high-end games.
With such specification, it will help writers and graphic designers to do high-intensive work such as creating masterpieces using Photoshop and InDesign without any trouble. You can handle all your task with no unexpected slowness. There is no drop in the performance level even while completing a demanding task.
Also, the fan is notably quiet, which means there will be no noise to distract you while you concentrate. The keyboard also has enough space between the keys, which feels good while typing. Additionally, the backlit keyboard ensures that you don’t face any problems while working in an ill-lit setting. In addition, the trackpad is a bit small but smooth, and it gives accurate responses.
In a nutshell, Microsoft Surface Book 2 is one of the best laptops for writers, which combines easy portability and powerful work machine to produce high-quality designs.
PROS:
High-speed performance
Elegant design
Responsive touch screen
Backlit keyboard
CONS:
A bit expensive
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Conclusion
So that’s it! You will find hundreds of models with different specifications on the market, and they constantly keep getting upgraded too. However, we made sure to include only the latest models on our list of best laptops for writers on a budget currently available on the market.
We understand how important it is for a writer to have their laptop work efficiently and serve all their requirements. After all, it has a direct impact on their work productivity. But with the existence of so many models, it can get quite difficult to choose the right model when every brand claims theirs to be the best.
That’s why you should always prepare a checklist before buying a laptop. Make a list of what you need – if you want a laptop that you can easily carry around, then go for the lightweight and ultra-thin laptops.
Look for models which offer longer battery life so that you don’t have to carry the charger everywhere. And if most of your tasks include writing and editing, it’s highly desirable to get 15-inch or 13-inch models so that tiny letters don’t strain your eyes.
We hope this article will help you make an informed decision when shopping. You can now enjoy writing using one of the best laptops for writers.
What do you get from three nerds (Joe, Ray, and Paul) that decide to create a functioning tech gadget review site? The first is data-driven arguments lasting way into the night. You can read more…
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